In a message dated 7/8/2001 6:40:25 PM Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

JABOU, again take your time, read, and understand.CITIZENSHIP DOES NOT
ENTITLE ONE TO A CLAIM FOR LAND.DEMOCRACY IS NOT DISCRETE. IT IS AN EVOLVING
PROCESS.....DISTRIBUTION OF LAND, LIKE OTHER COMMODITIES MUST BE NEGOTIATED
BY MUTUALLY-AGREED CONTRACTS.

Haruna,

Thanks. I shall try very hard to read and understand . Perhaps you are too
intelligent for me to understand what you are trying to teach me, one never
knows.

I understand perfectly and I do not agree that citizenship should not be a
claim to land. If being part of a kingdom, which is how those who hold Klan
land came about it,  entitles one to land, then citizenship should entitle
one to claim land in such a place.

I am also glad to see that you agree that distribution of land should be by a
mutually agreed contract. This is precisely what i am talking about. There is
a need to re-negotiate land allocation in The Gambia because it is clear that
the current distribution of the land is not by a mutually agreed contract.
And yes, every intelligent person knows there is a process to everything and
the atmosphere has to be conducive, but  you speak as if I have advocated
some stupid seizure of land for re-allocation.

You wrote:

> IN OTHER WORDS, SOME OR MOST OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS LOGICAL BUT THE
> LOGIC PRESUPPOSES A SPECIFIC PLATFORM CONDUCIVE TO DIALOGUE AND
> NEGOTIATION."
>
> I am glad that you agree with me that what I am saying is logical, and if
> you read the last part of my last post, it states precisely this point,
> that essentially,  the atmosphere has to be conducive as you have repeated
> here and certainly not wit hthe present regime, so am glad we agree on that
> too

THAT MUST BEGIN BY MR. NYANG RECOGNIZING HIS ERROR IN JUDGEMENT
> AND RETRACTING HIS INSINUATION OF TRIBALISM, SOMEONE BEING HELD ACCOUTABLE
> FOR UNJUSTIFIEABLE MURDER, THE CULPRITS OF KORO, AND THE STUDENTS' MURDERS
> BEING BROUGHT BEFORE AN UNFETTERED JUDICIARY, THE UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF
> DUMO, EARNING THE PRIVILEDGE OF AGENCY AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MAJORITY OF
> GAMBIANS NOT STEALING IT.


Well, I think that anyone who has been a member of the L for a significant
amount of time knows my stand on the issues you mention above. I do not
waffle back and forth regarding my position on Yaya Jammeh's government, and
I do not do the same regarding what is right and wrong either. I leave that
to those who do this from time to time  as insurance to protect some personal
interest so that it impossible to tell where they stand really.

 As for Mr Nyang apologizing, I am saddened to see that even though I have
explained that my discussion on this issue is strictly on the issue of
ordinary Gambians and  how land has been traditionally allocated, and not in
defense of the Brufut land controversy, people who are crying tribalism have
insisted on tying these two issues together. However, i am glad that at least
some of the people engaged in this discussion have grasped that.Please go
back and read some of my last  posts on the issue.

 I am afraid if you want an apology from Mr Nyang, you are directing that
request to the wrong person and tying it in with the wrong discussion.

> IN GOD'S NAME I HOPE THIS SIMPLISTIC EXPLANATION OF PRIORITIZING THE USE OF
> OUR ENERGIES AND SKILLS WILL PUT THIS LAND DEBATE TO REST TO BE REVISITED
> AFTER DEMOCRACY. MEANWHILE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU MAY GATHER AS MUCH
> INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE SO THAT YOU MAY BE USEFUL IN THE DEBATE AFTER A
> DEMOCRACY IS REALISED. FOR NOW, LET US USE THIS VEHICLE OF G-L JUDICIOUSLY
> AND BE INDUSTRIOUS WITH YOUR TIME. AT THE VERY LEAST YOU MAY CONTINUE THE
> DISCUSSION PRIVATELY AND SPARE THE REST OF US THE CHAGRIN.
>
> YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL CITIZENS.
>
> Haruna, i hope that some of us block heads can keep up with your high level
of understanding so that you do not have to resort to simplistic explanations
for our sake.  Are you not being a bit carried away? Do you not think that it
is up to ecah individual to decide what is time spent industriously, and also
what topics of discussion we want to pursue and at what time? If you are
tired of this debate, use the delete button on your computer, and take it
easy. Let us leave the totalitarian attitudes to Yaya Jammeh while we work to
get rid of him.
We have more issues to tackle when we do have a viable democracy, and it is
my opinion and perogative to initiate discussion on any of those topics
anytime I feel there is an opportun ity to do so, and despite the fact that
it may be a topic that some of us would rather leave untouched.

Have a relaxed evening.

Jabou Joh

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